On Sri Vaikunta Ekadasi

The whole festival of Sri Vaikunta Ekadasi is exclusively centering on the celebration of Pramanas, i.e., the reference texts for the faith and path of Sri Vaishnavism. The texts are comprehensive of Ubhaya Vedas. Vedas in Sanskrit and Tamil. The purport and essence of these twin Vedas is what is indicated by the term Ubhaya Vedanta. What is this term Ubhaya Vedanta, what does this mean? Ubhaya is a word meaning a twin, that is a twofold entity each necessitating, dependent and expectant of another. It is not just counting as two. Suppose you have two apples, you cannot use this term ubhaya in that case. It is just two with no interrelationship between the two counted. There should be an intrinsic and mutual dependent relating with each other. A good example is something which can move both in water and land. It is called ubhyachara. A knife has two edges. There again it is ubhaya. That is one thing in two aspects, in two ways. It is not one distinct thing from another. But the twoness should be conjoined by a single substratum. Sakshus or eyes act as ubhaya. That is one eye complimenting another. In Ubhaya Vedanta, there are two fold Vedanta indicated by Upanishads~Brahma Sutras and Tiruvaimozhi and other Divya Prabandams, elaborated by commentaries and treatises on the essence and purport of Divya Prabandams like Rahasya Grantas. 

So in a way the whole festival of Sri Vaikunta Ekadasi lasting for about three weeks, divided by schedule of Day Ten days and Night Ten days, Pagal Patthu and Iraappatthu, is really a celebration of this Ubhaya Vedanta. And especially it is celebrating Divya Prabanda and centering around Tiruvaimozhi of Nammalwar. It is Nammalwar's dreams come true. After Thirumangai Alwar, Nathamunigal was the prime master who took upon himself the responsibility of making Satakopan's dreams a reality. Sri Ramanuja fulfilled the great mission trail-blazed by Nathamunigal. And it is this many-generations long mission that is signified by the glorious term of Ubhaya Vedanta. It is the mission come true starting from Seven Rishis blossoming in Satajit Rishi brought to completion by Lakshmana Muni that was accounted before Sri Ranganatha for one full long year by Periya Jeer called as SriSri Manavala Mamunigal. 

And in this celebration, which was also called Mokshotsavam, the whole spiritual progress and attainment of a Mukta is being demonstratively brought home to the participants and viewers. Sri Stanikam Parthasarathy Iyengar in his book Srirangam Koil Tattvam explains Nacchiyar Tirukkolam as Mohini Alankaram, I do not think it is simply that. Otherwise Parasara Bhattar would not have commented like that comparing the benign looks of Perumal with Pirattiyar. It should be I think Sri Ranganatha is acting the role of Nayaki Bhava, which is an important stage signifying high maturity and a high level of Parama Bhakti in the journey of a Mukta towards Bhagavan. The name Nacchiyar Tirukkolam seems more suitable to the occasion.
Srirangam Mohanarangan 

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